Marathis

The Marathis are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group native to the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa. The Marathis are predominantly Hindu, and they speak Marathi and its dialects. The community came to political prominence under the Maratha Confederacy, which was founded by Shivaji during the 17th century. In 2007, the worldwide Marathi population was 74,700,000 people, with 71,936,894 living in India, 80,000 in the United States, 60,000 in Israel, and 20,000 in Mauritius.